Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Shaun Hamilton has wanted to contribute more all season

When getting his chance to do so Thursday night, the Montgomery native finished with three tackles and a pass breakup in the second-seeded Crimson Tide's 38-0 win over third seed Michigan State (12-2) in the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium.

"It was a great feeling," said the former G.W. Carver High star linebacker. "I knew I was going to play a lot in this game because (Michigan State) runs kind of a pro style offense."

Last season, Hamilton failed to make a play on Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott's touchdown run that essentially put Alabama away in the inaugural playoff. Nearly a year later, Hamilton made plays in a Tide semifinal victory.

"I play a lot in our base defense so it felt good running around out there," Hamilton continued. "I'm all about winning and doing whatever I got to do to help the team out. That's my role when we play against teams like that."

Hamilton came into the season a starter in Alabama's base defense, but since the Tide (13-1) face spread defenses, he's watched Reggie Ragland and Reuben Foster go 1-2 on the team in tackles.

Michigan State is more run-oriented. So Hamilton was in the middle of the action more than usual and produced for Alabama. He shared a tackle for loss with Dillon Lee on Michigan State receiver Aaron Burbridge as the Tide limited the Spartans to just 29 yard rushing on 26 rushes.

"That's one thing Coach (Nick Saban) always talks about, making a team one dimensional," said Hamilton, who has 27 tackles on the season. "We came out there, stopped the run and made them start passing the ball. That's what we wanted them to do.

"They're a great running team. They have great running backs and we took them out of the game."